The Shadows Our Presences Cast

(Twilight’s Plains. Apple Jack’s Farm)

The crusaders slowly back away from Razorback as she landed from the hole in the roof. Apple Bloom look quickly around the room for anything to get them out of this. She saw a couple of potion she was working on but all of them failed. A couple of them were to make spices and one was supposed to make things slipper. She needed to get to Apple Jack but she was working the tress. Razor expand her wings, blocking the sunlight from their only escape, the window.

“I hope you weren’t think about leaving. I just got here and it very rude to leave when a guest arrives.” Razor said, slowly creeping on to the three.

“You’re right. We’re sorry.” Sweetie Bell said, looking around for an escape as well. Her eyes landed on the potions and she motion to Apple Bloom. She nodded and turn back to Razorback.

“How about you join us for our next game?” Apple Bloom suggested. Razorback chuckle at this.

“And what game would that be?” Razor asked, stepping in a little closer.

“Potion Making!” Apple Bloom shouted and dive at the potions. Razor quickly step on the potions, crushing them all at once.

“Did you really think I was going to fall for this?” Razor said, sniffing the crash potions. “A couple of potions that smell like sugar?”

“Those were supposed to be spice potions.” Apple Bloom said calmly. “But somehow they became the opposite of what they were supposed to do. Like the one that became sticky” Razor was taken back and try to step forward. The key word was try. She was suddenly stuck to the floor. The three took this chance and dive for the window. Scootaloo garb ahold of the two midair and started to flap her wings as hard as possible. She knew she wasn’t going to fly but she could at least slow their fall.

They hit the ground hard and ran straight for the orchard. They didn’t get much of a head start because they all heard a roar and watch as the roof of the house exploded. They watch as Razorback was in the air and swooped down onto them. They manage to dodge her but now she was blocking them from going further into the orchard.

“That was cute.” Razor said, clearly not amused. “Did you really think something like that was going to stop me?”

“No but he might.” Scootaloo said, pointing to right nest to Razor. Before Razor could respond, she felt something hard hit her in the side. She felt her ribs break and went flying into a pile of apples.

“Big Mac!” The three called out.

“What in the hay is going on?” Big Mac asked.

“We don’t know what is going on.” Apple Bloom said, running up to him, crying. “That pony just burst through the roof and started to attack us. Where Apple Jack?”

“She went to talk with Twilight. Come on, I’ll take you…” Big Mac started but the pile of apples suddenly burst into flames and Razorback stood up.

“Aw, Big Mac.” Razorback said, cracking her neck while she got up. “That hurt a little.” Big Mac stood between the group and Razor.

“You all get to Twilight’s Castel. I keep her back.” Big Mac said, staring down Razorback.

“But big brother…” Apple Bloom started but stop when Big Mac look back at her. She had tears in her eyes when Big Mac said the next words.

“Just go.” He said. Apple Bloom nodded and started to lead the group away. Razorback started to head for them but Big Mac block her path.

“Oh, come off it.” Razorback said. “You won’t last a five minutes.” Razor flex her wings and the metal feathers shine in the dawn light.

“Then let’s make them count.” Big Mac said and charged.
(Music Plain. Back of Rebel Bar.)

Blood Bullet was counting his bits when the door to his little shop swung open. He look up to see Rebel Bell and a group of ponies run inside. He smile as he swept the bits into his safe and lock it up.

“Ah, Rebel, I was expecting you. I sell some armor to Razorback, per your instruction.” Blood said as Rebel closed the door. He was about to asked if she want any more armor when he felt magic wrap around his throat and threw him into his chair. He look to see that Rebel wasn’t happy, in fact, he swore there was fire in her eyes.

“You are going to tell me what that armor dose and then tell me how to disable it now.” Rebel said, ending the sentence with a growl. Blood whimper and try to get out of the magic.

“I imbed it with several different spells, allowing it to be one of the most powerful armor.” Blood said. “It allows the wearer to be healed, repairs itself automatically, and it metal feather can cause any number of element spells.”

“Okay, how do we stop it?” Apple asked.

“It connected to the user by a mental link, allowing them to control what it make. I’ve just started to make progress of what it can do. She can form any weapon she wants but if she ever loses consciousness, I theorize that the armor becomes just as useless as paper.” Blood said. Rebel nodded and turn to leave. “But there might be a problem with that.”

“What the problem?” Rebel asked, a little annoyed.

“You see, when I made the necklet for you with the night metal and the chest plate for Silver Back, it bonded well. But when I gave the suit I made to Razorback, it practically leapt on to her. I never seen it do something like that.” Blood said.

“I have a question.” Starlight said, stepping in front of the group to get a better view of Blood Bullet. “Where are you getting this armor and what is it made of?”

“We harvest the night metal from a plain we discovery about a year ago. The plain was complete deserted and not a single living thing was on it. But it was cover by this black rock. I guess that what happen in a world that never seen the sunlight.” Blood said.

“A plain abstained of all light? Oh no.” Starlight said. “I think I know what that armor is made of.”
(Twilight’s Plain.)

Big Mac was panting hard as sweat rolled off his forehead. For the last two minutes, he has been throwing everything he can at Razorback. She didn’t even seem fazed. She either dodge or take the hit full on. Right now, she move from annoyed sighs to taunting him.

“Alright, I’m going to give you one more chance.” Razor said, stretching her front leg in a hugging like pose. “One shot. Hit me as hard as you can and if you disappoint me, you will most certainly regret it.” Big Mac shorted and charge as hard as possible at her. He hit her square in the chest with the force that once move houses. There was a large crack and Big Mac thought he managed to at least injure her. He look to see the body armor was cracked but in front of his eyes, the crack reseal with a small pop.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Razor said shaking her head. “I told you’ll regret it.” She raised her front left hoof in the air and the armor swirl into a giant hammer. She swing it at him and smash it into his side. He flew in to the air and crash in the dirt. He felt like fire was burning through his entire body and his lungs were refusing to work. Razor walk over to him and as he tried to get up, he fell back to the ground, realizing that both his leg on his right side were shatter.

“As much fun it is to play with you, I have, like, a million other thing better to do. Now you just lie on the ground and possible bleed out while I go find your sister. I promise that her suffering will only be for a little bit.” Razor said. With that, she flap her wings and shot into the air.
(Music Plain. Rebel Bar.)

“So do we have a plan or what?” Pinkie asked as they left Blood’s office. Rebel was walking towards a door that lead back to the front of the bar, the group trailing behind her.

“I’m going to have my body guards lead you back to your plain. From there, you need to warn your princesses about Compassion. I will rally up my ponies and prepare them for an attack.” Rebel said, picking up her weapon with a spell. “This has gone on long enough and I refused to stand by anymore.” She reach for the door but stop just before opening it. “Aw no.”

“What is it?” Rarity asked, leaning close to the door. She look out of a port hole to see that every pony was staring at the entrance as a group of five stallion follow by one who was wearing a leather jacket and an general cap. She saw his mark was a star made of fire.

“It’s a raid and it leaded by possible the worst pony, Fire Star.” Rebel said, keeping the group back. “I’m going to deal with it. Apple, if things go south, you know what to do.” Apple Flower nodded and Rebel open the door. The group watch as she walk over to the raid party.

“What the matter Fire Star?” Rebel asked, pushing a chair out of the way. “Did you not get your weekly bribe or something?”

“This has nothing to do with bits and you know it.” Fire Star said, walking around Rebel Bell and picking up a glass. “I’m here because you been breaking the rule to our little arrangement. You give me about fifty bits a week and don’t harbor any criminals and I leave your little bar alone.”

“And what criminals do I have?” Rebel ask, slowly lifting her weapon under a table so Fire Star didn’t see.

“Fruit Flower and the so called ambassadors from the new plain. They are being accuse of stealing secrets and working with the enemy. Now if you want to keep the truce we have, you will surrender them to us now.” Fire Star demanded.

“Well, you know what they say about good deals.” Rebel said, aiming at Fire. “They have to come to an end. Chestnut, Now!” She flip the table over and squeeze the weapon. It made a loud bam and a guard next to Fire Star suddenly exploded in a fine mist of blood. One of the bar pony jump on stage and grab the mic.

“Are you ready to rock!?!” He shouted into it. Before any pony had a chance to responded, he let out a yell that seem to vibrate the entire room. The raiders try to block out the noise but this left them open to several of the patrons, who jump on top of them and started to beat the life out of them. Fire Star jump out from a table he hid under when Rebel fire her weapons.

“Kill everything that moves!” He roared and a whole group of armed soldiers rushed into the bar and started to open fire. The patrons flip tables and dive under them, bring their own weapons out to fight. Rebel jump from behind one table to other, landing beside a red fur unicorn with bleach blond hair. She used her magic to give him a back pack with a hose attach to it.

“Do what you do best.” Rebel said to him. He nodded and jump over the table.

“Time to burn it with fire!” He shouted and using his magic, he turn a nob and a flame erupted out of the hose. It spread quickly and started incasing the entire bar. The raiders back away and started firing wildly into the crowd. Several pellets pierce the wall and bounce around the back hallways. The group duck in hope of getting out of the way of the pellets but had no luck as one struck Sky Watcher in her left wing. She cry out in pain and collapse to the ground, moaning. Apple ran back and kick in one of the wall, opening to a secret hallway.

“Come on, we need to leave!” She shouted. The group ran to the hallway, carrying Sky with them. They keep running down the hallway until they reach a fork in the path. Apple look down both ways and then slam her hoof down. “Darn it! I don’t know which way the exit.” Apple was looking down both when a hatch open from above.

“Need some help down there?” A voice called down. The group look to see it was one of the pony that Apple came with to their plain.

“Counting Coin! Am I glad to see you!” Apple Flower shouted up to him. Count smile and for a second, the whole group thought they were safe. That was until the hatch was filled with ponies in robes. “Count, what is this?” Apple asked tensely. One of the robe pony threw a pouch at Counting Coin and he grab it in mid-air.

“There is you payment for leading us to the enemy.” The robe pony said.

“Oh, you treachery little piece of…” Apple Flower started but was cut off by Count.

“While I would love to hear the end to that insult, I got bits to spend.” Count turn and disappeared from sight. The robes ponies gather around the hatch and pull out small daggers.

“Okay, what do we do now?” Pinkie asked seeing one of the pony getting ready to jump down.

“Run.” Apple mutter as the cloak ponies started to descend.
(Twilight’s Plain. Town Square.)

“Come on, girls! We almost there!” Apple Bloom shouted as the three ran down the street. They could see Twilight’s castle and in a few second they be safe. Before they could go any further, several metal feathers landed in front of the three and created a wall of ice. They smash into the wall and were a bit daze as the sun was block out by a figure.

“And so close too.” Razorback said as she landed. “Well, I guess that the end of this game. Now, I just need you girls to do one more thing for me.” She flex her wings, causing the feather to fan out. “Scream for me.” She fling her wings causing several feather to shoot out towards them. The girls recoil in horror and were about to scream when a purple beam shoot out of nowhere. It hit all the feather and cause them to turn into dust. They look to see Twilight standing there, eyes red with angry.

“You’re going to hear screaming, just not from them.” Twilight said as Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack appeared on both side with Fluttershy behind them.

“I know.” Razor said, turning to Twilight. Her helmet disappeared in a smoke like mist, revealing a pony with orange fur and a buzz cut purple mane. “I want to hear it from you.”